Principal Cheminformatician - Drug Discovery

Placements24; Durban; On-site; ZAR 1,800,000 - 2,400,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Performance bonus

Retirement plan

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Principal Cheminformatician in Durban to lead design and deployment of cheminformatics platforms for drug discovery. You will drive SAR analyses, virtual screening, and cross-functional collaboration with chemists and biologists across state-of-the-art facilities.

The role requires a PhD in a related field and 8+ years in pharma/biotech cheminformatics, with expertise in Python, RDKit, and data mining. Office-based in Durban with excellent research resources.

Qualifications

• PhD required in Cheminformatics/Computational Chemistry or related field with strong computational focus.
• Minimum 8 years of experience in cheminformatics/computational chemistry in pharma/biotech.
• Proficiency in Python programming and data handling with RDKit/Open Babel; SQL experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and implementation of cheminformatics platforms and workflows for drug discovery.
• Apply computational methods to analyze large chemical datasets and SAR.
• Develop and optimize virtual screening strategies to identify leads.
• Collaborate with medicinal chemists, computational chemists, and biologists to apply insights.
• Manage and curate chemical databases ensuring data quality and accessibility.
• Stay updated on cheminformatics, computational chemistry, and AI/ML applications.
• Mentor junior staff and influence strategic direction of computational discovery.
• Prepare technical reports, publications and presentations for internal/external audiences.

Skills

Cheminformatics

Computational chemistry

Data mining

Python

RDKit

Open Babel

SQL

Leadership

Communication

Education

PhD in Cheminformatics/Computational Chemistry

Tools

RDKit

Open Babel

Schrödinger

MOE

Pipeline Pilot

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a forefront innovator in pharmaceutical research and development, is seeking a highly accomplished Principal Cheminformatician to drive our drug discovery efforts. This critical role involves leveraging advanced computational techniques to analyze chemical structures, predict molecular properties, and guide the synthesis of novel therapeutic compounds. Located in the bustling port city of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, this position is office-based, encouraging close collaboration and hands-on engagement with our state-of-the-art research facilities. You will be instrumental in developing and deploying cheminformatics tools and databases, directly impacting our pipeline of potential new medicines. The ideal candidate possesses a deep understanding of chemistry, computer science, and data science, with a proven track record of success in accelerating drug discovery programs.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and implementation of cheminformatics platforms and workflows for drug discovery projects.
• Apply computational methods to analyze large chemical datasets, identify structure-activity relationships (SAR), and predict drug-likeness properties.
• Develop and optimize virtual screening strategies to identify promising lead compounds.
• Collaborate closely with medicinal chemists, computational chemists, and biologists to integrate cheminformatics insights into discovery projects.
• Manage and curate chemical databases, ensuring data quality, accessibility, and integrity.
• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in cheminformatics, computational chemistry, and AI/ML applications in drug discovery.
• Mentor junior cheminformaticians and contribute to the strategic direction of computational drug discovery.
• Prepare technical reports, publications, and presentations for internal and external audiences.

Requirements

• PhD in Cheminformatics, Computational Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, or a related discipline with a strong computational component.
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in cheminformatics and computational chemistry within the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry.
• Expertise in chemical structure representation (e.g., SMILES, MOL files), database management, and data mining techniques.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python (with libraries like RDKit, Open Babel) and SQL.
• Experience with various cheminformatics software tools and platforms (e.g., Schrödinger, MOE, Pipeline Pilot).
• Strong understanding of medicinal chemistry principles and drug discovery processes.
• Demonstrated ability to lead projects, manage complex datasets, and drive innovation.
• Excellent problem-solving, communication, and interpersonal skills.

Benefits

• Our client offers a highly competitive salary and an attractive benefits package, including comprehensive health insurance, performance bonuses, and a robust retirement plan.

Employees working in our Durban, KwaZulu-Natal facility have access to world-class laboratories, advanced computational resources, and extensive opportunities for professional development, including support for attending leading scientific conferences.

We foster a collaborative and intellectually stimulating work environment, encouraging innovation and scientific excellence in the pursuit of life-changing medicines.